Category: News

Armenia’s fuel market has become more resilient as a result of the elimination of monopolies and an increase in the number of importers, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, commenting on potential supply risks and price fluctuations in the fuel market.

Asked whether the government had assessed possible risks to gasoline and diesel supplies in light of recent restrictions in Russia’s fuel market and Armenia’s heavy reliance on Russian imports, Pashinyan said changes introduced to Armenia’s fuel market in recent years had reduced dependence on a limited number of suppliers. “Independence means replacing dependence on a few with dependence on many,” the prime minister said.

He stressed that, despite global developments, the Armenian fuel market has not experienced the kind of disruptions seen in the past.

“In the past, whenever someone sneezed, Armenia’s fuel market would be shaken. We prepared for this long ago by eliminating monopolies,” Pashinyan said.

According to the prime minister, dozens of companies are now importing gasoline into Armenia, with new investments and new fuel station networks entering the market, while existing networks continue to operate.

Pashinyan expressed confidence that market mechanisms would make it possible to regulate the situation. 

At the same time, he noted that any increase in fuel prices would be driven by global developments.

“Price increases are linked to the global situation. We cannot insulate ourselves from the global impact on fuel prices,” Pashinyan said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said it is difficult to envisage resolving the country’s justice system problems without adopting a new Constitution.

Speaking at a briefing with reporters, Pashinyan was commenting on his earlier statement that justice and the judicial system in Armenia are accessible only to the elite.

Asked what tools the government intends to use to address the issue, given that Pashinyan’s political team has been in power for eight years, the prime minister said the legislative and executive branches cannot assume the role of the judiciary because of the constitutional principle of the separation of powers. 

“It is difficult for me to imagine solving these problems without a new Constitution. The new Constitution should introduce the institution of trial by jury,” Pashinyan said.

He added that all sitting judges should be granted the status of acting judges while undergoing a comprehensive integrity vetting process. 

“Those who fail the integrity screening simply should not be reappointed,” the prime minister said. 

According to Pashinyan, the judiciary is currently protected by the Constitution, limiting the ability of the executive and legislative branches to intervene. He noted that citizens primarily direct their dissatisfaction with the justice system at him, as public perception often associates responsibility with the head of government. 

Pashinyan argued that the judiciary remains Armenia’s least developed institution because the 2018 revolution had the least impact on that system. 

“The judiciary is the least developed of our institutions because the revolution had the least impact there, including due to constitutional constraints,” he said.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his party’s victory in the parliamentary elections.

According to a message released by the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office, Lula said:

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Brazil, and on my own behalf, I extend my warmest congratulations on your reappointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

Brazil attaches great importance to the historic ties of friendship and cooperation that unite our countries. I reaffirm my readiness to work with Your Excellency to deepen our political dialogue, expand bilateral cooperation and advance initiatives of mutual interest for the benefit of our two peoples.

Brazil’s vibrant Armenian community serves as a valuable bridge between our countries, strengthening the human, cultural and economic ties that bring us closer together.

Its presence enriches the diversity of Brazilian society and further reinforces the bonds of friendship between our peoples.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will travel to Iran on July 3 to attend the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The prime minister announced the visit during a briefing with reporters.

“Yes, I will travel tomorrow and return the same day. Naturally, meetings with the Iranian leadership are planned,” Pashinyan said, confirming earlier media reports.

Iranian media had previously reported that senior officials from a number of countries would attend the farewell and funeral ceremonies for Ali Khamenei.

Russia launched a massive strike on Ukraine, firing more than 70 missiles and nearly 500 drones. The death toll in Kyiv has risen to 20, while 85 people were injured. The BBC Russian Service, citing local authorities, reported the figures.

According to the report, 20 residential buildings were directly hit.

July 3 has been declared a day of mourning in Kyiv.

In Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, a seven-year-old girl was killed and four other people were injured in a Russian attack. One person was killed in Kharkiv, while three others were injured in Sumy.

Ahead of the Russian attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned residents about the possibility of a large-scale strike.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strikes targeted military-industrial and fuel-and-energy infrastructure facilities in the Kyiv region, as well as military airfield infrastructure in other regions. The ministry described the attacks as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes against Russia.

Ukraine, in turn, said it had struck one of Lukoil’s oil refineries in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, where a fire subsequently broke out.